NYC's conversion therapy ban to be repealed

Source: Politico

The Council plans to repeal a two-year-old ban on conversion therapy — the controversial practice meant to turn gay people straight. They’re not happy about it, as our Joe Anuta reports. But the Council was backed into a corner by lawsuit from the Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-LGBTQ organization based in Arizona deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Earlier this year, New York state passed a prohibition on conversion therapy for minors, so it will remain illegal for parents to send their kids to the dubious programs. But the city's law was challenged in federal court by ADF for being overly broad. So, rather than take the risk of having the courts weigh in, the Council will rely on state law, which will allow for adults in the city to undergo conversion therapy.

“The sad reality is the courts have changed considerably over the last few years, and we cannot count on them to rule in favor of much-needed protections for the LGBTQ community,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson, who is himself gay. “To be clear, all of us still believe this alleged ‘therapy’ is barbaric and inhumane, but repealing this law seemed to be the best path forward."

The decision speaks to a more hostile climate for LGBT rights at the federal level, where an adverse ruling from a higher court could go beyond striking down the city’s sweeping law and deal a broader blow to LGBT rights around the country.

4. I have a dream that one day no person will be a second class citizen.

This so-called Alliance Defending Freedom is trying to make gays second class citizens. Not that we are alone--we are joined by millions of "undocumented" immigrants, African Americans, and even women.

Perhaps one day conversion therapy will mean turning these so-called freedom lovers into real human beings.